Dental universal molding frame



Sept. 4, 1934.

w. REIFFEL DENTAL UNIVERSAL MOLDING FRAME Filed April 13, 1933 INVENTOR WILL/AM RE/FFEL fiw Patented Sept. 4, 1934 UNITED "STATES,

o'FFicE" The present invention relates to universal den tal molding frames and particularly to frames for use in mechanical dentistry.

It is extremely desirable that artificial mouth lplates and the artificial teethgcarried by them be in keeping with the teeth in the mouth. It is therefore necessary to set up a model of the mouth into which artificial teeth may be fitted so the patient and dentist may determine whether ithe proper results have been obtained. The plaster compound model so set up may also serve as the base upon which may be prepared the necessary mouth plate.

Various frames for this purpose have been in 'juse, but all have the common fault of not being universally adaptable for all possible uses.

It is therefore an important object of the invention toprovide a dental moulding frame comprising two identic hinged members so shaped as to produce the plaster cast of mouths of various shapes and sizes, and in which the hinged members are each preferably formed of a series of integral angularly connected sides to facilitate removal of the frame from the plaster cast.

Another object of the invention is to provide in a frame of this character, associated portions adapted to divide the area surrounded by the frame to producecasts of portions of the mouth.

A further object is in the provision of an articulated molding frame having stretchable and easily applicable locking means.

Other objects of the invention reside in providing an easily separable hinge to permit thorough cleaning; in constructing the frame of a durable,

not easily fracturable material such as hard rubber, bakelite, celluloid or the like; and in providing a frame of comparatively inexpensive manufacture.

With the foregoing and other objects in view,

the invention resides in the novel construction,

arrangement and combination of parts hereinafter more fully disclosed and illustrated in the accompanying drawing,indicative of a preferred embodiment of the invention, and in which:

Fig. 1 is a view in perspective of a frame constructed in accordance with the present invention.

Figs. 2, 3 and 4 are sectional views indicating the manner of attaining a plaster cast of a por- -tion of the mouth.

Fig. 5 is a sectional view of a mouth cast set up in the molding frame and indicating a mouth plate with its artificial teeth prepared thereon.

Fig. 6 is a plan view showing the molding frame -;provided with an associated portion adapting the frame for use a cast of a front po rtionof the mouth, and

Fig.7 is a sim lar view showing the frame adapted for use with casts of side portions of the o In the drawing, the numeral 10 generally des ignates two exactly similar frame portions, each formed of a series of integrally made straight sides 11. These two portions are preferably hinged to each other as at 12 by means of a removable hinge pintle 13. The sides 11 of the frames are so angularly related as to permit open ing the frame members without intercepting any portion of the plaster of Paris cast confined therein.

Means may be provided to effect a closure at the free ends of the frame portions and in this instance an elastic member 14 engaging over hooklike protrusions 15 is illustrated. It may be desirable to use more rigid means for locking other than here disclosed and in this event spring clamps or even rigid clamps may be employed for the purpose.

The frame members 10 when assembled form a polygonal shape approximating the shape of the mouth. Fig. 1 illustrates the frame as ready to receive the cast of a full mouth and when it is desired to arrange the frame to receive the cast of the front portion of a mouth an insert such as shown at 16 (Fig. 6) may be placed as indicated to provide a smaller area 17 for the smaller cast. A member 18 such as indicated in Fig. '7, may be used to divide the frame surrounded area into equal areas adapted to receive casts of the side portions of a mouth. To effectively prevent displacement of the member 18, a tongue and groove arrangement such as illustrated at 20 may be used. To accommodate the cast of a large mouth a portion such as 18 of various lengths may be used to increase the frame-surrounded area.

The following is descriptive of one manner in which the device may be employed:

The dentist places a quantity of wax, plastic or other impressionable material 21 in a pan 22 in the usual manner. He then places this in the mouth of the patient so there is impressed therein the negative form of the teeth, gums and other mouth surfaces. This is clearly shown in Fig. 2.

The negative impression bearing wax or plastic 21 is then removed from the mouth and the impression is filled with plaster of Paris in the well known manner and a positive cast 23 is obtained as seen in Figs. 3 and 4.

The molding frame is then filled with a quana great saving of time andlabor.

tity of plaster of Paris 24 and set upon a flat support such as 25. Before the plaster of the cast 23 and the plaster in the frame are set the two are joined as at 26 and then allowed to harden.

In this manner there is formed an exact model of the mouth of the patient and upon this model the dentist arranges the proper artificial teeth 27 to determine the appearance of the mouth of the patientwhen such artificial adjuncts have been incorporated therein. He may then display the set up for the patient to criticize if he so desires. I

He may then design the necessary bridge member to support the artificial teeth or he may mold on the plaster cast an artificial plate'such as 28 in which the artificial teeth are imbedded.

a frame constructed in accordance with the in vention may serve the dual purpose of being used as a display device and as a working base for the dentist, avoiding the necessity for much hand trimming, shaping and smoothing of the Fromthe foregoing it will be seen that a simple device for the purpo'se has been disclosedin-the preferred form of its embodimentfbut it is not past "at desired to restrict the details to the exact construction shown, it being obvious that changes, not involving the exercise of invention, may be made without conflicting with the scope of the appended claims.

Having thus described my invention, what I claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is:

1. In combination with a. dental molding frame comprised of a. pair of identic hinged frame members having separable joining means, of an insert associated with the frame, said insert compris- 1 ing a T-shaped member having its extremities tween the other extremities and the free ends of the frame members, said 'inse'rt dividing the molding'area encompassed by the frame.

WILLIAM REIFFEL. 

